Is it harmful to declaw a cat?

This is an issue about which many people feel very
strongly. We try to give people the facts based on
what our vets and our experience have told us. Which
is this: declawing is something that should only be
considered in cases of EXTREME behavioral
problems. Cats use their claws to exercise, play,
stretch, climb, hunt and mark their territority. Although
your cat might use your hands or furniture for these
activities, declawing is NOT the answer and there are
many other ways to guide your cat to healthy claw
activity.

The declawing operation itself is the human
equivalent of removing the first joint of all your
fingers. Many vets feel that the lack of these joints
impairs the cat's balance and can cause weakness
from muscular disease. Declawing also makes a cat
feel defenseless and can affect their personality,
making them skittish or nervous biters. In rescue
work, we see many declawed cats that have been
given up by their owners. Why? Because these cats
still had behavioral problems that were worsened by
not having their claws.

There are alternatives to declawing. Exercise and play
with your cat regularly. Give him a scratching post and
teach him to use it. Trim your cat's nails on a regular
basis. And, of course, talk to your vet or cat-owner
friends about ways to "train" your cat to exercise its
natural instincts in non-destructive ways.